There’s More To Perfect Skin Than Moisturiser

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When it comes to attaining perfect skin, it is certainly the case that a good skin care routines, that includes regular cleansing, toning and moisturising is an essential part of the equation, but it is by no means the whole picture. 

If you want your skin to be perfectly smooth and radiant, there are a whole host of things you should ideally be doing in your daily life. What are they?

Taking Your Water Into Consideration

It doesn’t matter how good the products you’re using are or how good your skin care routine is if you aren’t taking the type of water you’re using into account. For example, if you live in an area that has soft water, you may need to use less cleanser because soft water isn’t as good as removing residues from the skin.

If, however, you live in a hard water area, it is more likely that you may have to use more cleanser because hard water doesn’t enable soaps and facial washes to lather. If that’s the case, then using a gentler cleanser would be a good idea to minimise any harm to your skin.

Drinking More Water

While we’re on the subject of water, you should probably be drinking more of it, Why? Because the better hydrated you are, the plumper and smoother your skin is likely to be. When you’re dehydrated, your skin can become dry and more prone to wrinkles. So, if you want to attain perfect skin, drink up.

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Take Green Tea

Of course, you don’t have to take all of that water in its natural form, and it would actually benefit your skin to heat some of that water up and use it to make green tea. Why? Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties which can help to soothe puffy skin, and it is filled with Epigallocatechin, which help to protect against collagen destruction. As you will probably know it is collagen that helps the skin to stay plump, elastic and smooth, so this is pretty important.

De-Stress

Stress is bad for most of the body, including our skin. One study conducted by Stanford in the States found that students who were stressed out during the exam period were much more likely to suffer from serious outbreaks of acne than those who were not feeling the pressure. This is due to the fact that when we’re stressed, we produce high levels of cortisol which can lead to oily skin that is more likely to get infected.

Luckily, it’s not too difficult to keep stress under control using things like yoga, meditation breathing exercises and the odd visit to the spa. Time to relax!

Stay Away from Smoke and Pollution

Okay, so it’s not always easy to keep your distance from smoky atmospheres and areas of air pollution, especially if you live in a big city, but you should do your best to avoid them when you can because poor air quality can dry out the skin, lead to premature aging and increase the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is another good reason not to smoke, too!

Use Plain Toothpaste

If you’re using toothpaste that’s flavoured with something like cinnamon or cloves, or which has tartar-control substances included, you might want to have a rethink and switch to a plainer toothpaste  How will this help your skin? By helping to prevent something known as perioral dermatitis which can cause red patches, pimples and scaly skin around the mouth area - something which is set off by these ingredients in some people.

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Sit Away from the Window (or Wear Sunscreen)

If you are indoors, you might think that you’re safe from the harmful rays of the sun that can cause premature ageing and cancer, but you’d be wrong if you’re sitting by a window anyway. UV rays can, of course, penetrate the glass of your windows and reach your skin just like they would when you’re outdoors, so either sit away from the windows, draw the curtains or ensure that you are wearing SPF protection even when you’re indoors if the sun is shining.

Ditch Dairy

If you’re suffering from acne, then it may be worth giving up dairy because research has shown that teenage girls who consume lots of dairy are 30 percent more likely to have acne than their peers, and this is likely to be the case for adults too. There are so many substitutes in the form of nut milks and cheeses now that it isn’t such an issue. 

While we’re on the subject, for acne sufferers, gels such as duac, can be bought online and they can be quite effective at clearing the problem up, especially when used in conjunction with dairy alternatives if that is a source of your breakouts. You can control your acne.

Use a Soap-Free Cleanser

If you're prone to dry skin, then using a soap-free cleanser is probably more important factor in the way your skin looks than your choice of moisturiser because soap can dry out the skin, whereas non-soap alternatives can add more moisture while gently cleansing your skin.

Ensure Hair Products are Water-Based

The problem with many hair products, from hairsprays and gels to conditioners is that they contain lots of wax and oil and this can find its way into the forehead, hairline, and neck. When it does, it can clog the pores and lead to breakouts. This is less true of water-based hair products, so make the switch to see if it helps you out.

Switch Medications

There are lots of medications, including contraceptive pills  antidepressants, and antihistamines that can cause breakouts and dry skin, and in some cases even increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. If you’re having trouble with your skin despite doing everything right, it might be worth looking into any medications you’re taking to see if they could be the cause and then asking your doctor if there is an alternative you could take instead.

Moisturiser matters, but so do all of the things above. Change as much of your routine to incorporate these important skin helpers into your life, and you can expect to see a more radiant version of yourself in the mirror in the following months.